-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If there is one man who knows how to spoil a Parisian party then it 's Andy Murray .

While the majority of the 15,000 crowd packed inside Court Philippe Chatrier roared their home favorite Gael Monfils at every opportunity , their hopes of a French champion were extinguished once again .

This was a pulsating clash between two men straining every ounce of energy from their tired bodies and stretching every sinew .

Murray , so dominant for so long after taking the opening two sets 6-4 6-1 , appeared set to return to his hotel early enough for a night out on the Champs-Élysées .

But Monfils , as infuriating as he is talented , did what he does best -- he entertained .

The Frenchman , playing to the crowd , took the next two sets 6-4 6-1 before imploding when the tie looked his for the taking .

Not since Yannick Noah was crowned champion in 1983 has France witnessed one of its own triumph on the clay .

Alas , the wait will now extend into a 32nd year .

Murray , who seemed to thrive on the partisan nature of the contest , eased to a 6-4 6-1 lead and seemingly had the match all wrapped up .

In 2012 , Murray defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet in a similar setting , and that experience appeared to allow him to settle rather quickly .

The World No. 8 , who was so impressive during his victory over Spain 's Fernando Verdasco , looks to be far more comfortable with his game following a troublesome back injury .

Against Monfils , a player he often practiced with and competed against as a child , he showed a maturity which the Frenchman sometimes lacks .

Nobody can doubt Monfils ' ability to entertain but with that comes a constant frustration to combine his style with substance .

After conceding the first set , Monfils lost the plot completely in the second before rallying to ensure he at least won a game .

The third was more competitive with the home crowd urging the World No. 28 to respond and take the contest into a fourth set .

And their hero finally responded , converting the third of three set points to take the third 6-4 .

With the momentum firmly behind him , Monfils broke to take a 4-1 lead in the fourth .

Suddenly , playing with the joie de vivre which had been missing earlier in the contest , Monfils appeared unstoppable .

He claimed the fourth set 6-1 and appeared set to apply the coup de grâce .

But just as the home crowd was about to celebrate a famous victory , Murray wrecked any thoughts of popping Champagne corks .

He swept Monfils away with disdain -- 6-0 to secure the match , finish the contest and throw down the gauntlet to his next opponent -- champion Rafael Nadal .

Nadal

Can anybody stop Nadal ? That 's the question Murray will have to answer .

David Ferrer , the man vanquished in last year 's final by the eight-time French Open champion , was the latest man to feel the wrath of the `` King of Clay '' .

After a slow start in which he conceded the first set 6-4 , Nadal hit back to take the next three sets 6-4 6-0 6-1 .

The World No. 1 , who was beaten at Monte Carlo in April by Ferrer , remains a huge favorite to win the title .

Petkovic progresses

Andrea Petkovic nearly quit tennis a year ago -- now she stands on the verge of reaching a first grand slam final .

The German , who lost in qualifying at Roland Garros 12 months ago , made the last eight at three of the four grand slams in 2011 .

But her career threatened to derail when she suffered back , knee and ankle injuries and spiraled down the rankings to 177 -- before returning to the tour in March 2013 .

The 26-year-old , ranked 27 , proved too good for Italy 's Sara Errani as she carved out a 6-2 6-2 victory .

`` Today I was in a real zone , '' she told reporters .

`` I stepped up my game when I needed to . That gives me confidence .

`` I do n't think I 'm coming from nowhere to the semifinals . It 's a very special moment , I have n't been there before . ''

Petkovic , who is the first German lady to reach the semifinals since Steffi Graf in 1999 , now faces a showdown with Romania 's Simona Halep .

Halep , the highest seed left in the draw , overcame 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-2 6-2 to claim a place the semifinal of a grand slam for the first time .

Halep , ranked fourth in the world , won the junior event on the clay in 2008 and is now hoping to do the double by winning the French Open proper .

`` I felt very good on court . It was a perfect day for me . I played really well and stuck to my gameplan , '' she told reporters .

`` I was very aggressive . I played very fast .

So it was a good match , and I 'm really happy that now I can play in the semifinals in Paris . ''

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Rafael Nadal to face Andy Murray in semifinals

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Murray overcomes Gael Monfils in five sets

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Nadal defeats David Ferrer in four sets

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Andrea Petkovic to face Romania 's Simona Halep